Council tax discounts for empty homes are removed

2:24pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News

DISCOUNTS on council tax for empty properties in Darlington are to be removed or increased to encourage owners to make them available for rent.

Members of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet agreed to remove the existing council tax discounts for second homes and properties undergoing renovation and add a 50 per cent premium to empty properties.

Empty, unfurnished dwellings will receive one month of free council tax, down from the previous 12 month council tax free period.

The council hopes the move will raise an extra £645,000 a year and also force landlords to make more housing stock available for the town.

Councillor Stephen Harker, deputy leader of the council, said: “Hopefully these proposals will make properties available and also increase much-needed revenue for the council.”

Comments(3)

still here says...
3:32pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Think you will find you are only allowed the property to be empty for 6 months at present before you start paying full tax on it.

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Voice-of-reality says...
4:50pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Having provided full-time work for a group of 20 tradesmen whilst renovating a house I provided employment at a time of shortage. Had this policy been in force then I would not have bought the house and those men would not have been employed. Another short-sighted policy born out of ideological blindness that will once more discourage those who can create wealth from returning to the area - well done Darlington

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GarryR says...
11:29pm Wed 16 Jan 13

The cabinet believes that this measure will lead to landlords making more housing stock available for the town. By applying a penalty tax on landlords taking the risk of a property being let, the additional risk will need to be compensated in the form of either or a combination of lower purchase price or - for existing properties - higher rents. Backfire. Alternatively, there are other locations to invest without this punitive tax, leading to fewer houses being available. Backfire.

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